Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) and the Uganda National Musicians Association (UNMF) have partnered to launch the “IKnowKati” campaign, aimed at raising HIV awareness among young people in Uganda.
Hosted by the UNMF, the event at A’lure Suites featured activities such as free HIV testing, condom distribution, door-to-door health talks, counseling, and a jam session where both established and emerging artists used their talents to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.
At the event, Reach A Hand Uganda’s Acting Country Director, Benson Muhindo, stated that their partnership with the Musicians Federation aims to help achieve the goal of eliminating HIV in Uganda by 2030. Muhindo noted that due to the strong following these artists have, with many youths looking up to them, it was deemed wise to place them at the forefront of this awareness campaign.
“We are working with these musicians because we believe they have a platform that we don’t have. They have a large following of young people who admire them and want to emulate them. When we take them to the communities where young people are, they can interact with them, share their experiences, and raise awareness about HIV,” he said.
Muhindo noted that during the event, many artists and influential individuals openly spoke about living with the virus, emphasizing that such gestures help combat stigma and encourage others to speak out with confidence.
“Today, we have had many artists come out and share their experiences of living with HIV. This helps to combat stigma and encourages others to speak out confidently,” he said.
Muhindo noted that as they work towards ending HIV by 2030, certain factors still fuel its spread, particularly among youths. He highlighted complacency towards messages like condom distribution, with many youths refusing to use them, thinking they are inferior to those available in the market.
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“We might not meet our targets, the 95-95-95 by 2025, because we are seeing a spike in new infections, especially among young people. One of the challenges is that we are getting complacent with our messages. We preach condom use, but young people are saying they don’t like the condoms provided by the government, yet they can’t afford to buy their own,” he added.
Additionally, he expressed concern about changing lifestyles, citing new businesses like saunas and massage parlors, where workers, particularly women, are vulnerable. He stated that these developments are making it harder for the health ministry to reach its targets.
“We have new ways of life that have come up, such as massage parlors and saunas, where people are very vulnerable. Women who work there are really vulnerable. This makes it problematic for the Ministry of Health to achieve its targets, because the ways of life have changed,” he added.
He thanked Eddy Kenzo, the president of UNMF, for partnering with them in the awareness campaign, as well as other musicians for actively participating and using their platforms to spread the message.
On his part, Edirisa Musuuza, commonly known as Eddy Kenzo, the president of the Musicians Federation, noted that they have partnered with Reach A Hand Uganda to ensure that they spread the message and reduce the number of people getting infected.
“We are creating awareness against HIV. We’re trying to make sure that we reduce the number of people getting infected. We are trying to make people aware that it’s always good to do checkups before you get into a relationship with anybody. You better test them and know their status,” Kenzo said.
Kenzo revealed that the federation has set up a desk, led by Sophie Gombya, where artists living with HIV can privately seek medical attention. He praised Reach A Hand Uganda for choosing them, stating that as they command a large audience, their music has the power to spread the message far and wide.
Kenzo encouraged fellow musicians and public figures to adopt the habit of regular testing, as it will help them lead healthier lives.
Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha, who has lived with HIV for 32 years, emphasized the importance of stopping the stigmatization of people living with HIV and instead promoting love and support. Canon emphasized the importance of using condoms, highlighting their role in providing dual protection against both sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. He also encouraged people living with HIV to adhere to their treatment and take good care of their health.
The IKnowKati2024 jam session concluded with a candlelight vigil in remembrance of those lost to HIV, followed by fireworks and a song of hope and awareness.
